How Omega-3 Fats Talk to Your Immune System

This review pulls together research on how omega-3 fatty acids—especially EPA and DHA from fish and marine sources—interact with the immune system at a molecular level. The authors explain that these fats become part of immune cell membranes, which changes membrane fluidity and affects how immune cells communicate and respond to signals.

A major focus is on how EPA and DHA influence gene expression tied to inflammation. The review describes how these fatty acids can reduce activity of NF-κB, a key switch that turns on inflammatory genes, while activating PPAR-γ, a receptor that tends to dial inflammation down. EPA and DHA also serve as building blocks for specialized molecules (like resolvins and protectins) involved in resolving inflammation rather than just suppressing it.

The paper also reviews mixed evidence from larger human trials. While some research links omega-3 intake to lower inflammatory markers and favorable effects on immune cell types (T-cells, B-cells, macrophages, neutrophils), large cardiovascular trials such as STRENGTH and ASCEND did not find reduced rates of major cardiovascular events with omega-3 supplementation, highlighting that results can vary by formulation, dose, and population studied.